Exclusion in gaming, underrepresentation and future of industry to be discussed by experts

09/25/2017

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]

Issued by University of Leicester Press Office

Issue date: 25 September 2017­

Free public event organised by the University of Leicester to take place at the LCB Depot in Leicester on Thursday 28 September

Over last few years the gaming industry has seen fast-paced technical developments and a number of controversies surrounding exclusionary aspects

Recent controversies include Gamergate, which saw prominent women working in the games industry be subjected to harassment and abuse online, and racial slurs by popular vloggers

Systematic underrepresentation of women and people of colour in games industry, with workforce in the UK including only 14% women and just 4.7% individuals identifying as BAME

Exclusionary aspects of the gaming industry and ways in which the industry can be more inclusive in the future will be highlighted at an event organised by the University of Leicester on Thursday 28 September.

‘New Horizons in Gaming: Tech, Publics and Politics’, which is organised by the CAMEo Research Institute for Cultural and Media Economies at the University of Leicester, will feature gaming experts from industry and academia.

The event seeks to ask: what new gaming technologies can we expect? What new forms of interaction and community are emerging from gaming? And how can we make gaming more inclusive?

Speakers include Alison Harvey, Lecturer in Media and Communication at the University of Leicester; Kish Hirani, freelance consultant, mentor and advisor and first Chair of the UK advocacy group BAME in Games (http://www.bameingames.org/ ); and global leading eSports company ESL UK.

Dr Paula Serafini, Research Associate at CAMEo Research Institute for Cultural and Media Economies, University of Leicester, who is organising the event, said: “In the last few years the gaming industry has seen fast-paced technical developments, as well as the evolving role of gaming as a social activity, and a number of controversies surrounding the exclusionary aspects of the industry and its publics.

“From Gamergate, which saw prominent women working in the games industry be subjected to harassment and abuse online, to the more recent controversy surrounding the vlogger PewDiePie’s use of racial slurs when live streaming gameplay, gaming culture has been surrounded by controversies related to diversity and representation in recent years.

“Part of this problem is the systemic underrepresentation of women and people of colour in the games industry. A 2012 Creative Skillset Census of the Creative Media Industries report showed that in 2012, the computer games workforce in the UK included only 14% women and just 4.7% individuals who identified as BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic).

“We are therefore hosting this salon to bring together experts and enthusiasts to talk about the future of gaming and how the industry and its culture will change in the future.

“This will be the third salon hosted this year by CAMEo. With this series of events, we are hoping to bring together academics, creative industry professionals, artists and the general public to discuss topical issues in the arts and media and generate connections between people.”

Following presentations and discussion, attendees are invited to stay for a pop-up arcade after-party (8.30-9.30pm) and play some of the most interesting and unusual games available for free online.

The event, ‘New Horizons in Gaming: Tech, Publics and Politics’, which is organised by the University of Leicester, will take place at the LCB Depot in Leicester, on 28 September between 6:00PM – 9:30PM.

The University of Leicester is led by discovery and innovation – an international centre for excellence renowned for research, teaching and broadening access to higher education. The University of Leicester is ranked among the top one per cent of universities in the world by the THE World University Rankings. It is among the top 25 universities in the Times Higher Education REF Research Power rankings with 75% of research adjudged to be internationally excellent with wide-ranging impacts on society, health, culture, and the environment.

The University of Leicester is committed to a culture of collaboration. We believe teaching and research are inseparable and that success is built on partnership and innovation. We have a focus on students and commitment to social mobility and foster a culture of equality where everyone is valued. We are committed to ensuring our successes drive local enterprise and business and contribute to the success of the city and region. We have an international focus and celebrate the unique character of our University - a welcoming and close-knit campus in one of the most multicultural cities in the UK.